Target Practice

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I walked in the arena, seeing a boy around my age standing in front of a target. A few arrows were pinned to the bulls-eye. He didn't seem impressed with his work. I frowned, probably an Apollo kid. From a few feet away from the kid, I threw my dagger at the target. Seeing it hit the bulls-eye made me smile.

"Well hi there. I'm Bella," I said.

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"Thanks. Your shots aren't too bad either," I said as I retrieved my blade. I pulled my bow and quiver off of my back, and shot a few arrows at a target. I was making today a practice day. I had a feeling something bad was coming. And fast.

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"You've got a point," I replied. Now, I was going to try for speed. My new goal was to shoot five arrows in ten seconds or less. That's when I began. I loaded an arrow, and then shot, and repeated the process. I broke my record, by shooting the arrows in nine seconds. Smiling, I was filled with pride. "That's more like it," I said.

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"Thanks. Hey if you don't mind me asking, are you a son of Apollo?," I asked. I noticed he was good with a bow. I knew I was sort of okay, but his skill was Apollo-type-skill. Looking back at my target, I loaded another arrow. I shot it, and it hit the bulls-eye with that noise that I liked. Smirking, I slung my bow on my back.

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"You sound so nonchalant. Like, Oh I might have blinded a few people. No big deal!," I said with a smile. I sat down on a bleacher, now rather bored. I had done my sword training, my dagger throwing, and I just finished archery. It was only like, mid afternoon. Smiling I had done everything I needed to do. What to do, what to do.

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I slid my quiver across the floor. It contained an infinite amount of arrows. "That's my friend Mia's quiver. You can use it if you want," I said. I laid back, and looked at the afternoon sky. It was clear, as the Camp Half Blood skies always were. I felt the cool breeze on my arms. Smiling at the weather.

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"No problem," I said. I was slightly day dreaming, looking at the clouds. What was I thinking about? Nothing much. Other than what hope my relationship with Devin has. I mean honestly. He had his "friend" Kat now. And heck, they had matching stuff on their necks! I almost laughed at that last one. I looked back at the guy, and admired his almost-perfect form when shooting the arrows. Mine was crap, but I made the bulls-eye anyway.

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I admired his talent in the arrow-shooting. It was pretty good. No, strike that, it was perfect. I felt the wind it my face, and I sat up. I didn't realize how tired I was until now. I picked up a Gatorade I had smuggled into camp. I liked the orange kind, and hated the grape. Taking a small sip, I put it back in my back-pack. I sat back down on the bleachers, and looked around. The arena was empty, which was a BIG surprise.

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"I've tried telling my Hecate friend that. She didn't really listen to me," I said. I slightly smiled. Finally someone wanted a challenge. I took another sip of Gatorade. I needed my electrolytes after being so active today. I put my hands behind my head, I looked back up at the sky.

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"Thank you! Someone understands," I said. I sat back up, and played with my dagger in my hand. "But when I told her we needed moving targets she was getting ready for some date with a guy. She was distracted and stuff. I honestly don't see a point in relationships anymore," I said. I was frowning, because I didn't believe I just said that. Wow I sounded depressed.

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"Agreed with you. I used to be in a relationship but I was smart enough to keep my head above water," I said. I looked up at the sky, thinking about my mom for once. Had she given me guidance? I felt the wind move my hair into my face. I left it there for a minute, and then pulled it back into a ponytail. I pulled my feet on the bleachers with me, and hugged my knees.

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You're not really missing out," I said. It was true. Relationships stunk most of the time. I threw my dagger at a target about nine feet away from me. It was about two inches off of the bulls-eye. I laughed, because it felt like I was playing darts. Interesting thought, I said to myself.